TOM RENNER

Woodwinds

Having played and taught for many years, Tom Renner has found much success both teaching and performing in the central valley and bay areas. With 30 years of experience, he specializes in saxophone and clarinet as well as flute. He also teaches violin, trombone, trumpet, piano as well as some double reed. Tom received a B.A. in music education from Gustavus Adolphus college in Minnesota and has taught in the Tracy Unified School District for many years at several levels. Tom currently serves as the Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for the school district and is heavily involved with the Performing Arts Magnet at Tracy High School. Inspired most by Chris Potter, his dream is to perform jazz until his last living day.

MATTHEW VERONA

Oboe

Matthew Verona started playing woodwinds in elementary school, starting with the clarinet. Eventually he learned all the woodwinds at a high level, oboe being his primary woodwind instrument. He has played with many professional orchestras and ensembles for concerts and recording jobs. Matthew is the former English horn soloist for Sequoia Symphony Orchestra. He is a strong musical theater pit musician, playing is shows like Sweeny Todd, Damn Yankees, Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, Copacabana and many others. The most recent; playing with the Las Positas pit orchestra for the show How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He has also recorded sound tracks at Skywalker Ranch in Nicasio, Fantasy Studios in Berkeley and most recently The Creation Lab in Turlock. Matthew started teaching young musicians at Main Street Music in 2019. He graduated from Stanislaus State University, Turlock with his bachelor’s in music education, holds a certificate in beginning piano pedagogy from Las Positas College, Livermore and has taken many music education and performance classes from University of the Pacific, Stockton. Starting new students in music with a strong core in music fluency in a large part of his teaching philosophy. His current woodwind passion is becoming proficient at the baroque oboe.

DAVE VILLA

Woodwinds

Dave Villa is a great jack of all trades teachers. A saxophone player first and foremost, he's been playing since 1982. As a public school teacher for the last 21 years, he has experience on nearly all wind and orchestral string instruments. He offers lessons on flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, tenor sax, violin and viola in addition to his primary, alto sax. Dave received his Bachelor's in Music Education from CSU Stanislaus. His biggest inspirations are Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Paul Desmond and Charlie Parker. Some of Dave's favorite accomplishments include his first jazz solo performance in 1983 and his senior recital in college. In addition, he has traveled to Europe on two different occasions to perform with different groups. Dave's biggest musical goal is to be a better player than he was yesterday.